Arango, with brothers Manuel and Plácido, founded Bodega Aurrera discount supermarket chain in 1958. Through his Grupo Cifra expanded into VIPS and El Portón restaurants and Suburbia clothing stores. Cifra joined forces with Wal-Mart in the early 1990s and was later bought out and renamed Wal-Mart de México (known as Walmex). Deal extended Sam Walton's empire south of the border and netted Arango more than $2 billion.